21: Chapter 21 Jiaqi is going to steal the show?

Since there weren't many vegetables for Badanmu to wash, she left the kitchen once the task was done.

Only Cao Mo remained to handle the ingredients, blanching the meat and ribs, and chopping vegetables for preparation.

Cao Mo planned to make nine dishes and one soup: Mapo Tofu, Spicy Chicken, Braised Pork Ribs, Chopped Chili Fish Head, Stir-fried Pork with Chili, Braised Taro, Dry Pot Yellowbone Fish, Spicy Shrimp, Water Spinach, and a Tofu Three-Delicacy Soup.

They were mostly home-cooked dishes. Since it was getting late and Cao Mo was hungry, he decided to skip anything too complicated.

Cao Mo's movements were extremely skillful; it didn't take long for him to finish prepping all the ingredients and start cooking.

By this time, Jiaqi had arrived.

With pink hair and wearing a black tank top and denim shorts, she came to the kitchen and stood at the doorway, smiling as she watched the busy Cao Mo.

"Hello! Nice to meet you, Jiaqi!" Cao Mo greeted her.

"Hello!"

Jiaqi raised her hand with a smile in response, then continued, "You're really handsome! Even more so than in your Livestreaming sessions and videos. Especially now, the way you're cooking—it's off the charts. As expected, a man who can cook is the most handsome."

"No, no, just a little handsome, just a little!" Cao Mo replied bashfully.

"Ha! You're even copying Brother Tong!" Jiaqi said.

"I've watched his Livestreaming too much, it just slipped out," Cao Mo said.

"So, who do you think is more handsome, me or Brother Tong?" Cao Mo asked Jiaqi this question as well.

"Ah! Why are you asking the same question as Brother Tong?" Jiaqi replied.

"Just asking, tell me, be honest," Cao Mo said.

"To be honest, you're definitely more handsome!" Jiaqi answered decisively.

"Is that so? But you said Brother Tong was more handsome during your Livestreaming," Cao Mo teased.

"Oh! So you watched yesterday's Livestream, huh!" Jiaqi said, looking at Cao Mo with feigned annoyance.

"You still haven't answered my question," Cao Mo corrected her.

"Didn't I say it yesterday? I hadn't met you in person yet, and besides, I was doing a Livestreaming with Brother Tong, so of course I had to say Brother Tong was more handsome!" Jiaqi replied.

"So, now that you've seen me in person, you think I'm more handsome, right?" Cao Mo laughed.

"Yes," Jiaqi nodded.

"So honest..." Cao Mo said.

"That's a must. I'm about to eat the food you cooked, so I have to be honest," Jiaqi responded with a smile.

"Alright! We can eat in twenty minutes," Cao Mo said.

"Then I'll go wait outside."

Jiaqi left the kitchen as she spoke.

Badanmu was sitting on the sofa in the living room, playing on her phone.

Jiaqi sat down next to her and asked curiously, "What's the situation between you and Cao Mo?"

"What situation?" Badanmu replied.

"You and Cao Mo! Aren't you going to explain? Are you two dating?" Jiaqi asked.

"Who's dating? We've only met twice so far," Badanmu rolled her eyes.

"Then why is he cooking at your place today? Are you chasing him, or is he chasing you?" Jiaqi asked gossipingly.

"Neither. Why would your mind go to who's chasing who? Can't friends just hang out normally?" Badanmu said.

"I don't believe it. You two definitely have something going on," Jiaqi insisted.

"This is only the second time I've seen him, what could there possibly be! Stop guessing," Badanmu said, speechless.

"You're getting along so well on the second meeting, buying groceries together and cooking at your place," Jiaqi noted.

"So what!" Badanmu replied.

"It's too unusual," Jiaqi remarked.

"Alright! Stop with the gossip. I just think Cao Mo is a good person," Badanmu defended herself.

"Fine! Keep pretending! I'll make my move then," Jiaqi said.

"You're making a move?" Badanmu's brows shot up.

"Of course! He's so handsome, talented, and can cook—where else are you going to find a man like that?" Jiaqi laughed.

"What about Tong Jingchen?" Badanmu asked.

"What are you thinking! That's my brother!" Jiaqi replied.

"Then go ahead and make your move," Badanmu said.

"Are you sure? Then I won't hold back," Jiaqi asked suspiciously.

Just then, Cao Mo walked out carrying two dishes.

The two women immediately stopped chatting.

Badanmu went straight to the dining table. Seeing the Spicy Chicken and Dry Pot Yellowbone Fish on the table, she immediately went to get the chopsticks.

Jiaqi also came over, looking at the two dishes on the table, and suddenly felt that Cao Mo really had some talent.

Badanmu brought the chopsticks over and gave a pair to Jiaqi.

The two women picked up some Spicy Chicken and put it in their mouths, their eyes lighting up.

"Wow! Delicious!" Jiaqi exclaimed.

Badanmu nodded as well; she also thought the taste was excellent and felt it was extremely authentic.

It seemed Cao Mo hadn't lied to her; his cooking skills were indeed impressive.

...

Twenty minutes later, all the dishes were on the table.

Each dish was a feast for the eyes, nose, and palate.

"Thank you for your hard work!" Jiaqi said.

"Have some soup first. It's at its freshest right now," Cao Mo said.

"Okay! I'll serve it."

Badanmu used a ladle to serve a bowl of soup for Cao Mo first, then served herself and Jiaqi.

Cao Mo drank the soup he had made and found it delicious.

It was just a simple Tofu Three-Delicacy Soup, but after Cao Mo's seasoning, the taste was extraordinary.

"Mmm~ Delicious! So fresh! This is the best soup I've ever had," Jiaqi exclaimed.

"Ha! Is it really that exaggerated?" Cao Mo laughed.

"I'm serious, it's really delicious," Jiaqi replied.

"It really is very fresh. How did you make such simple ingredients taste this good? Did you add some kind of 'technology'?" Badanmu teased.

"Adding 'technology'? Are you insulting me?" Cao Mo rolled his eyes.

Just then, Jiaqi picked up a piece of Braised Pork Ribs and ate it, praising it again: "These ribs are also delicious! You're too amazing! This is even better than what I've eaten at those big restaurants."

"Well, I have to be amazing, otherwise how would I dare to come cook for two beauties?" Cao Mo replied.

"If I could eat this food every day, I'd definitely turn into a fatty," Badanmu said.

"Oh! So you want to eat this every day?" Jiaqi teased.

Badanmu rolled her eyes at Jiaqi.

"Sister Lihua, since the food is so much to your liking, what about that room we discussed?" Cao Mo joined in on the joke.

"Room? What room?" Jiaqi asked gossipingly.

Cao Mo looked at Jiaqi and explained, "I mentioned at the time that Sister Lihua's house was so big and it was a waste to have so many empty rooms, and then Sister Lihua asked if I wanted to move in. I said sure! Then she said it would depend on my cooking skills."

"Is that so! I have empty rooms at my place too. Why don't you come live at my place? We can cook together occasionally," Jiaqi suggested.

"Jiaqi!" Badanmu looked at Jiaqi with an unfriendly expression.

"Ah? What's wrong?" Jiaqi blinked innocently.

Seeing this, Cao Mo laughed and said, "Okay! Sounds good! But Jiaqi, I need a dedicated room for my Livestreaming, and it must be soundproofed."

"No problem, no problem!" Jiaqi agreed.